Joseph h



(No Model.)

J. H. PILKINGTON. CLASP.

No 462,582. Patented May 19,1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

JOSEPH H. PILKINGTON, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE SMITH & GRIGGS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 452,582, dated May 19, 1891.

Application filed January 5, 1891- Serial No. 3 76 ,7 3'7. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, J osEPH I-I. PILKINGTON, of Waterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have inventeda new Improvement in Clasps; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and

to which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a perspective view of the clasp complete; Fig. 2, face view of the same; Fig. 3, side view of the same; Fig. 4, centralsec- [5 tion on line 00 a: of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, transverse section on linear: 0c of Fig. 3; Fig. 6, the blank from which the jaw A is formed; Fig. 7, the blank from which the jaw B is formed.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of spring-clasps which consists of a pair of jaws having a spring between them tending to yieldingly hold the jaws in the closed position, the jaws pivoted together, one jaw extended beyond the pivot and pro- 2 5 vided with means for attachment, and the other jaw extended as a finger-piece by which, to aid in opening the jaws, such clasp being used for stocking-supporters and similar purposes, the object of my invention being a simo ple construction for pivoting the two parts together and retaining the spring in its proper relation to the two parts; and the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter described, and particularly recited in the-claims. 3 5 A represents one jaw, and B the other. At their grasping ends they are preferably each turned toward the other so as to form grasping-teeth a I), (see Figs. 1 and 4,) and as usual in this class of clasps. The jaws are formed from sheet-metal blanks, as represented in Figs. 6 and7. The jaw A at its pivot-point is constructed with alaterally-projecting tongue C on each side, and transversely across the body, between these two tongues, is a nar- 5 row slot D. Beyond this slot the jaw is extended and constructed for attachment to the strap or whatever it may be. As here represented, this attaching device is a clip E, formed as a part of the tail of that jaw A, and which clip is closed upon the strap or thing to which the jaw is to be attached; but for this attaching device any of the known substitutes may be employed. The two tongues C are turned inward at right angles to the body, as seen in Fig. 5. The jaw B is constructed with a transverse slot F across its back, but less in length than the width of the jaw correspond ing to the slot D, and its two sides project and are turned to form flanges G G, as seen in Fig. 5, the width between the said flanges G G corresponding to the width between the tongues C C, as seen in Fig. 5. The two parts are set together, as seen in Fig. 5, the tongues C projecting beyond the jaw B, as represented in broken lines, Fig. 5, and the tongues, being of suflicient length, are both turned inward onto the back of the jaw B, and then their ends turned into the ends of the slot F, as represented in Fig. 5, making a hooklike engagement at each side between the two parts. The spring H is a spiral spring, its two arms I J projecting therefrom, so that the spring may operate as a torsion-spring. The diameter of the spring H is greater than the distance between the two j aws, and the spring is arranged in the slots D and F of the two parts of the two jaws, as seen in Fig. 4, the body of the spring resting in those slots, so that it is prevented from moving longitudinally of the clasp. The arms I J project rearward, the one arm I taking a bearing on the tail of the jaw Aand the other taking abearing on the tail of the jaw B, the jaw B being extended so that its tail K may form the usual finger-piece by which that jaw may be operated. The tendency of the spring is to force the two parts from each other, and so as to hold them in the hook engagement described. The tongues prevent longitudinal movement of one jaw upon the other and the spring opcrates as a pivot upon which the jaws may turn in opening and closing, as represented in broken lines, Fig. 4.. The flanges G of the jaw B are applied to give strength to that jaw, so that it may be made of thin metal 5 and yet possess sufficient strength for practical operation, but they may be omitted. The tongues C, projecting from the sides of jaw A in the form of flanges, give a like strength to that jaw. One of the slots D or F may be omitted, one being sufficient to so embrace the spring as to retain it in its position against hmgitndinal movement between the jaws, and in case the slot h is omitted openings near each edge of the jaw should be formed, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 7, into which the ends of the tongues may be turned; or both the slots maybe omitted, one or both of the tails of the jaws being provided with a hole, as a, Fig. 6, into which the end of the arm of the spring may be turned, so as to insure the spring being held in its properlongitudinal relation to the two jaws.

I do not claim, broadly, a clasp composed of two sheet-metal jaws with a spring between and in which the two sides of each jaw are turned toward the others, and the turned sides or flanges interlocked to form pivots, as such I am aware,broadly considered,is not new.

I claim-- 1. The herein-described clasp, consistingof the two jaws A 13, the one jaw A constructed with tongues O G, projecting from its sides and turned into planes at substantially right angles thereto, the jaw B constructed with openings through its back corresponding in position to the tongues C C of the jaw A, the said tongues turned over the sides of the jaw B and down into the corresponding opening in the back of the jaw 13, so as to form a hooklike engagement therewith at each side be tween the two jaws, combined with a spiral spring arranged between the said jaws and in the said slot, the ends of the spring projecting to form two arms, one of which arms bears upon the tail of one jaw and the other arm upon the tail of the other jaw, the tendency of the spring being to hold the two parts in the before-mentioned hook-like engagement and form the pivot upon which the jaws turn, the tail of one of the jaws provided with means for attachment, substantially as described.

2. The herein-described clasp, consisting of the two jaws Al extended beyond the pivotpoint to form a tail from each, the one jaw A constructed with tongues (J, projecting from each side and turned into planes at right angles to the plane of the said jaw A, the jaw 13 constructed with a transverse opening F at the pivot-point and corresponding in position to the said tongues G C of the jaw A, the jaw 13 constructed with side flanges G G and arranged between the tongues C C, the said tongues G C turned over and into said opening F to secure the two jaws together, combined with a spiral spring arranged between the jaws and in the slot and so as to project into the said slot F of the jaw B, the two ends of the spring extending rearward to form arms, one of the said arms operating upon the tail of one jaw and the other arm upon the tail of the other jaw, the tail of one jaw provided with means of attachment, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH II. PILKINGTON.

\Vitncssesi Na'rnn. R. BRoNsoN, E. SMITH. 

